Brian Ó hEadhra

As part of its multi-faceted commemoration of the 1500th anniversary of Colm Cille’s birth, the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) has commissioned seven new artworks. The commissions are in the visual arts, music and literature and have been commissioned by the RIA with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The artists carrying out the commissions are:

• Timothy O’Neill, a master calligrapher, will celebrate Colm Cille’s work as a scribe in an artwork reflecting his contribution to the manuscript tradition.

• Róisín de Buitléar, an award-winning glass artist, will draw her inspiration from Colm Cille’s belief that there are ‘three ways to draw people to belief’.

• Internationally celebrated musicians and singers, Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre, will – as a music collective – compose a new song inspired by Colm Cille’s life and work.

• Biddy Jenkinson, a prominent Irish-language poet and dramatist, will write a drama titled ‘Iona’ which will reflect on the dilemmas Colm Cille faced when called to make his most important decisions.

• Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird, a prolific Irish-language writer, will produce a novel that re-imagines Colm Cille’s youth in Ireland and the circumstances that led to his departure to Iona.

• Sandy NicDhòmhnaill Jones, who currently holds the title of Crowned Gaelic Bard in Scotland, will work on a suite of poems based on Colm Cille’s experiences and the influence and legacy of his life.

• Simon Ó Faoláin, an accomplished poet, is working on a series of poems looking at the various and contrasting stages of the life of Colm Cille.

The artworks are due to be completed around the time of Colm Cille’s feast day on 9 June and will be unveiled later in the year. The Royal Irish Academy will also host a public lecture series in the autumn, which it is hoped to make available subsequently as a series of podcasts. Supported by the Irish-Scottish partnership, Colmcille.net, this series will be accompanied by a digital exhibition.

Foras na Gaeilge, Museum nan Eilean and Donegal Language Planning Officers will host an Ireland and Scotland Cèilidh on April 30, 2021 – 8 pm live on Facebook.

The event will consist of songs, music, and storytelling from Ireland and Scotland in the Gaelic of both countries.

The event will be presented by Shona MacLellan from South Uist, Scotland and Aodán Ó Cearbhaill from Gaoth Dobhair, Ireland.

Some of the guests taking part on the night will include Martin Mac an t-Saoir, Linda NicLeòid, Lea MacLeoid and Aileen Elder from Scotland. Sinéad Breathnach agus Colm Breathnach, Ciarán Mac Feilimí, Conor Ó Gallachóir, Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair and Niamh Ní Dhubhgáin from Ireland.

Follow the link below to enjoy the ceilidh on Colmcille ‘s Facebook page.

This is an historic year – the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille.

A new website has been set up by Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council which will be a hub for events taking place in Ireland to mark the occasion.

Visit the website here.

Catriona Patience is a multimedia artist from the west of Ireland, who now lives and works in Scotland. Her seasonal art celebrates her encounters with the outside world through photography, textiles and paint. To celebrate Colmcille 1500 Catriona has created three original artworks depicting birds from the genus Columba and using film footage shot on Inchcolm; Iona of the East. Here is her final work presented to CHARTS and Bòrd na Gàidhlig in December 2020.

by Phil Baarda and Derek Robertson

As we know, St Columba, Colmcille, came to Scotland from overseas and has become an iconic part of our culture and history.  So too have many familiar and not-so-familiar plant and animals.  In more recent times, these wildlife colonisers – migrating northwards as our climate changes, or otherwise helped here by human hands – are so new to Scotland they don’t have a Gaelic name, which is something this exciting project is beginning to address.

From the Bird’s Mouth, Bho Bheul an Eòin, is naming the new!  Through a process of research and consultation, with advice from scientists, researchers and Gaelic writers, the project will give Gaelic names these new Scots, and tell the story of their colonisation through poetry and prose, through a high-quality art book with an interactive website – and, when possible, a travelling exhibition.

This exciting partnership project features award-winning and highly-acclaimed wildlife artist Derek Robertson, with support from NatureScot (formally Scottish Natural Heritage) and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

There’s an additional resonance with Colmcille.  The symbol of Columba is the dove – species of the genus Columbidae.  The Collared Dove – the Calman-coilearach – first nested in Scotland in 1957 after rapidly expanding from its place of origin in the Middle East and Asia.  Despite the sandy camouflage colours of its plumage, the Calman-coilearach has now reached the furthermost island refuges of the saints who came to preach the words of a religion born in the deserts of the East.

You will be able to find the From the Bird’s Mouth, Bho Bheul an Eòin, webpages from https://www.derekrobertson.com/ which also shows Derek’s other remarkable wildlife artwork.